Stapler



June 27, 1939.

E. L. SIBLEY STAPLER- Filed June 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. L. SIBLEY June 27, 1939.

STAPLER Filed June 297, 1957 3 Sheets-SheekI 2 June 527, 1939.

E. L. slBLEY i STAPLER Filed June 29, 1957 ZJ.) A9 0 (442/ 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED stares ATENT OFFICE 'STAPLER Edward LSibley, Bennington, Vt.

Application June `29, 1937, Serial No. `151,045

y16 Claims.

This invention relates to staplers, and ,fit has particular reference to devices of this character in which, by appropriate movement of the stapler parts, staple-forming wire is fedY from aV supp-ly of same to the operative mechanism of a Stapler head which severs from the supplied wire va length thereof adequate for the ,formation of the staple, forms the staple from such length of wire, causes the formed staple to be driven through the papers or the like to be stapled together, and appropriately clinches the staple, all vin a single stapling operation, the return movement of the parts to normal position being instrumental to permit feeding to the stapler head from the, supply of wire another length of wire adequate for the formation of another staple of the stapling operation.

One object of the invention is to provide a stapler having, in general, the characteristics hereinabove recited in which the operative parts are of rugged, durable construction, compactly assembled, and capable of functioning repeatedly in an efficient and satisfactory manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to of relatively few parts, which parts are so arranged and awssembled as to make them capable of easy `access for adjustment, repair and replacement, if necessary.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter particularly described, the de-` vice of the invention takes the form of a Ypliertype hand tool wherein the movements of .the operative parts are accomplished by actuation of the operating handles or handle levers upon their pivotal connections, and the ,compactnes's of the.ar, rangement of the parts o f the device, particularly as regards the supply of staple-forming wire, which generally is vin reeled form ,enclosed within a magazine or casing, is enhanced by location of such supply between the vplier 'handles in what would normally be Waste space.

It will be understood that, although aS J'ust described, and as will hereinafter become more apparent, the invention, in the form shown, is embodied in a plier-type hand implement, its essential novel characteristics are capable of embodiment in other well known types of implements of this character, such, for example, as the sfo-called desk type which includes a supporting base.

The invention contemplates a stapler including a stapling head, means for supplying staple forming `to said stapling head, whereby it may be formed vinto staples and-'these staples upon repetition driven, an anvil against `which the staples maybe clinched, and mea-ns for imparting an` appropriate succession of Amovements to the parts of said stapling head, wire-supplying means and anvil, whereby wire may be fed in measured quantities to the stapling head, formed into staples, and the thus formed staples driven and caused to penetrate papers or other materials to be stapled, and clinched to secure such papers or other materials, all as will be explained hereinafter more fully and finally claimed. i Y

In the accompanying drawings illustrating th invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention embodied, as hereinbefore mentioned, in a hand implement of plier type.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the device illustrated in Fig. l. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan View ofthe device. l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the wire clutch in engaged position, as' distinguished from its disengaged position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation of the stapler head and anvil. Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the stapler head and anvil, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5.

Figfl is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating a detail of certainV wire feeding elements.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts of the stapler head in the positions assumed thereby after formation of the staple from an' appropriate length of supplied wire, and Y Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8, but illustrating' the parts of the vstapler head in the positions assumedat Ithe completion of the staple clinching aperation.

Fig. 10 ,is a bottom view of the wire magazine and associated parts.

In the embodiment vof the invention illustrated, the stapler includes a stapler head A, an anvilB' and a wire supply C operatively assembled in plier-type actuating means.

These actuating `means include a handle member I of bifurcated form providing arms `2 and" 2 pivoted upon a bolt or other suitable pivot means 3 at the opposite sides of a head framed, and carrying 4in xed relation between their extremities 5, 5' `the anvil block .6. The head frame ll is provided with vdepending ears 1, 1', or lthe like, `to whichare pivotally connected at 8 and 8 the extensions .E and 9 of a bifurcated handle member` I complemental to the handle member I. By this arrangement of parts, it will be seen that as the handle members I and I0 are grasped and pressed together, the extensions 2, pivoting about the pivot 3 will first function to move the anvil block 6 into contact with the under surface of the head frame member 4, or into contact with papers or the like to be stapled, and then the handle I and head frame member 4 will, upon continued closing pressure on the handles, function as a unit pivoted upon the pivots 8, 8', so that relative movement will be imparted about these pivots 8 and 8 to the head frame member 4 and the extensions 9, 9' of the handle I0.

The head frame member 4 is preferably of channel formation, as indicated particularly by the showing of Figs. 3 and 6, and carries the parts whereby the operations of forming, driving and clinching a wire staple, from appropriately supplied wire, may be accomplished. These parts include a yoke II provided at its opposite sides with slides I2 cooperating with and adapted for sliding movement in guides I3 provided in the inner faces of the sides of the head frame member 4 and flanking an opening I3' in the bottom thereof in alignment with the yoke. Sliding movement is imparted to the yoke Il by means of trunnions I4, I4 which engage cam slots I5 and I5 in the extensions 9 and 9 of the handle lever I0, so that when the handles are closed together, as hereinbefore indicated, the trunnions I4, I4', following the contour of the cam slots I5, I5' will be moved downwardly to the limit of their downward movement as determined by the conformation of the cam slots I5, I5 and by slots I6, I6 in the sides of the frame 4. The yoke I I is recessed as indicated at Il so that when depressed it will span a mandrel I8 mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the head frame 4 between the sides thereof. Movement of this mandrel in one direction (to the right, Figs. 5, 8 and 9) is imparted to it by means of cam members I9 carried by the yoke II which engage a, cam follower member or block 20 carried by the mandrel I8, and movement of the mandrel in the reverse, or return, direction is imparted by a spring 2| attached to it and to the head frame 4 as indicated at 22.

In operative alignment with the recess I'I of the yoke, and slidable in the yoke in suitable bearings, is a staple driver 23 having at its upper end a combined head or stop and cam contact member 24 which latter, during an appropriate portion of the closing movement of the handles I and I0 will be engaged by a cam surface 25 formed upon a cam block secured between the extensions 9, 9 of the handle I0.

The wire 26 from which the staples are formed is fed to the head transversely thereof and just above the upper surface of the mandrel I8 through a feed block 21 to which is connected a feed tube 28 which leads from a clutch abutment member 29 over which the wire 26 runs and upon which it is subjected to the action of an automatically operating pivoted clutch member 30 having an extension 3I normally engaging the rear edge 32 of the extension 9. This clutch member 3U receives its pivotal movement in response to cooperation between the parts 3I and 32, and to the pressure exerted by a spring 33 bearing against it. The abutment member 29, clutch member 30 and spring 33 are all carried by a bracket 34 fixed to the head frame member 4, and this bracket also carries an extension 35 of the feed tube 28, which extension provides a guide for feeding the wire from the supply C thereof to the clutch abutment member 29.

This wire supply preferably includes a casing or magazine 36 appropriately separably connected to its cover 3T, which latter is rotatably secured to an extension 38 of the head frame member ll, and within this casing or reservoir is mounted a wire reel 39 rotatable upon a pin 40 extending through its hub or core and having bearings in the casing 36 and its cover 31. The wire 26 emerges from the casing through an opening 4I and leads therefrom over a friction block 42 and thence into and through the tube 35, clutch means 29--30, tube 28 and feed block 2 to the stapler head.

Various means may be employed for imparting intermittent rotative movement to the casing 36 to measure off from the reel lengths of wire adequate to form staples upon subsequent projection or feed into the stapler head. As one such means, there is shown depending from the under side of the casing 36, an eccentrically arranged pin 43 transversely bored to receive a sliding link 44 carrying a stop 45 and having its end connected at 46 with the handle lever I0. By this arrangement, it will be seen that as closing movement is imparted to the handles the clutch member 39 will be released, and under the influence of its spring 33 will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein its wire engaging end will bear firmly against the wire and hold it in immovable contact with the abutment member 29. Simultaneously, the stop 45 will have been engaged with the pin 43 and, as the closing movement of handle levers is continued, will cause a partial rotation of the casing 36. Inasmuch as the wire 26 is held against movement by means of the clutch 29-39, this partial rotation of the casing 36 (clockwise Fig. 3) will cause an appropriate length of wire to be unwound from the reel 39, any excessive unwinding being prevented by means of a spring or other brake member, such as that shown at 4l, or its equivalent, which bears against the reel 39. It will be noted that, as the Wire is thus unwound from the reel, the friction block 42, and a resilient friction nger 50 bearing against the wire and holding it in contact with the friction block, will slide over the wire and recede from the end of the tube 35, and hence the length of wire between the parts 42-50 and the clutch means 29--30 is increased by an amount sufficient to form a staple. Upon subsequent release of the handles I and I0, the casing 36 will be returned to normal position by reverse rotation imparted to it by a spring 5I, and the frictional engagement on the wire, imparted by block 42 and finger 5U, will cause the length of wire previously measured off by unreeling to be fed forward to the stapler head. the clutch 29-30 having, meanwhile, been released by cooperation of the parts 3I-32.

It has been found that a length of wire amounting to approximately is adequate for the formation of an appropriate staple, and the device is preferably so designed and adjusted that upon each closingand opening movement of the handles this amount of wire will be fed from the reel of the magazine to the stapler head. Obviously, the amount of rotation imparted to the casing 36 may be adjusted by appropriate adjustment of the stop 45, or by appropriate adjustment of the pin 43, which latter may be adjustably secured in either an arcuate or a radial slot 43', Fig. 10, in the bottom of the casing 36.

Moreover, in order that when the casing 36 is stroke,- there-is` provided a latch memberoperating in timedA relation tothe actuation of the staple forming parts of the stapler head. This latch member preferably` includes aspiring-pressed pin 51 adapted forengagement Witha tooth 58, or the like, (see particularly Fig. 3) on the casing 35 or its eoverr31, and this pinriscarried in abearing member 5!!A mountedl on a slide Ill4 guided in la slotBLinithe-bottom ofT thet frame 4 and attached to` the slidingA mandrel I8.-..

In the devlce-asdesigneda andconstructed, the handle lever IIJ is.- so. formed that the pin t3,

and, preferably alsothe edge of the casing 36.

will strike. upon the appropriately formed surcasest52 and 53., respectively, of the handle lever. Opening movement of. the handle levers under the influence of theuspring 54V is limited byV a stop shoulder 55 which` cooperates withthe under surface of the anvil block 6 and by a stop pin 56` arranged in the head frame member 4 and against which the partv 2 `of theh` andle I abuts, as Willbe-reierred to hereinafter.

v To facilitate threading of the Wire through the tube 28 and into the feed block21, the feed block (see Figi. 7)` hasa conical bore 2.1. terminating in the. exit. or feedrapertureor orice for the wire, and. the tuber 28 isv depressed at 28.' to form a guide thetendency. of which isto project the `end of the wirefintothe conical bore of the block 2l. It` will be noted,` further, that there are no offstanding. projections againstwhich the end of the wire might abut when being.A threaded through the tube.28.andinto-the feedblock 21.,.andthat, therefore, the threading may be` expeditiously accomplished. v

The operation ofthe device is substantially as follows; Assuming that an` appropriate reel of wire has been `arranged within. the reservoir or casing 35.,.and` the partsy thereof suitably assembled, and the wire 25 threaded throughits various feed devices and into the stapler head over the mandrel, I8 so that its` endsubstantially abuts against. the. remotewall of the, head, frame member 4, as illustratedin Fig. 6,4 papers or the like to be stapled together will be inserted in the space between the anvil, block (i` and the lower face of the head frame member 4. Then,` when the handles I and I0' are grasped, and pressure .applied to` close them together,` the first portion of this closing movement will,` as hereinbefore stated, be a movement of the handle lever I about its pivot 3 which will result in closing the anvil block` 6 beenath the opening I3 and against. the lower face of the bottom of the framemember 4 to hold the papers betweenthese parts, and to suitably locate the anvil block for the, subsequently occurring staple driving and clinching operation. Continued closing movement of the `handles. I

and I,0.v will, cause a pivotal action around the` pivots 8, 8 and Will result in the depression of the yoke I`I by cooperation of its trunnions I4, I4. with the cam slots I5, I 5, until the. yokev has reached the limit of its downward movement, as.

illustrated in Fig..8. The operation ofthestaple- ,forming parts thus far `described has resulted in severing the length of wire which projects into thestapler head and in bending itv around. the mandrel. I-8 to staple form, as illustrated in Fig. 8,

thestaple being retained in the-grooves. I.I' and 23,' (see particularly.Figs.` 6 and 8) inthe yoke II and staple. driver. 23 respectively. Meanwhile,4

theV mandrel I 8` 4,will have been gradually retracted, during the staple-forming operation, under the influence of the cam members I9 cooperating with the follower block 20, `until the mandrel is` completely withdrawn from between the arms of the yoke II, and outof position to interfere with subsequentdepressionv or staple driving operation of the staple driver 23.` After the mandrelhas been thus withdrawn, the staple driver 23 may, of its owmweight descend, carrying with it the formed staple, until the ends of the legs of the staple pass through: the opening i3 and contactwith the sheets of paper or the like to be stapled. together, or it may have retained its original elevatedxposition, as indicated in Fig. 8, withthe formed staple similarly elevated and/thus retained vby frictional engagement of its legs with` the grooves II of the yoke. However, now, upon completion ofthe closing movement of the handles I and I0,-the cam surface 25 bearing. against the cam contact member 24 of the stapledriver 23 will, by its rotative sliding engagement therewith, cause Vthe vstaple driver 23-to descend, carrying withit 4the formed staple and causing the ends. of the staple to be driven through the sheets of paper or othermaterial and clinchedinthe, clinching. recess4 5! of. theanvil block 5. During` this completionof. the stapling operation thetrunm'ons` Ity I4' will be accommodated in the `offset portions ofV the cam slots i5, I5 (see Fig. 9).. i During thesestaple forming and yclinching operations, it willbe apparent that, as. the edge 32 of the members moves Vaway from the` part 3l of the clutch member 30,. the clutch member, will, under the influence .of its springl33, turn upon its pivot, as indicated in Fig. 4to immovably grip. that portionof the lwiref`26 which is exposed upon the abutment .member 2,9, and that while the wire is thus held ,against movement, the casing 3@ will belfrotat'ed, bycooperation` from the frame member 4 and the'stapled papers or the like will be released. Also, the yoke II will be returned'to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, carryingwith it the' staple driver 23, and the mandrel I8 will be returnedto its normal position beneath the yoke 'II and'staple driver 23. Moreover, return' of the mandrel I8 to normal position will release the latch 'pin 5l from the tooth 53 of thev wire reservoir and the wire reservoir, under the influence of the'spring 5I will rotate (counter-clockwise,"Fig.3) and, dueA to the grip of the parts `12 ancljill upon the wire, will feed the measured' length ofuwire into the stapler head above the mandrel I8- as indicated in Fig. 6, sothat the device is readyfor another stapling operation,` it being understood that when the edge 32 ofthe member 9 strikes the extension 3l of the clutch 30,the clutch 3l? will be released, thus permitting the wire tobe fed asldesired. I

Althoughthe stop shoulder 55 may be depended upon for-limiting.- the returnmovement of the lever I to normal. position, `the fact that the lever I has an independent, movement about its pivot 3 under the influence of spring 54, makes it necessary to limit such movement by means of the stop pin 56 or equivalent means, and thereby the return of all of the staple-forming parts to operative position may be definitely ensured, as any excess movement of lever Ill will cause its cam slots I5, l5 to disturb the required adjustment of the yoke Il and its associated parts.

Various changes and modifications are considered to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a stapler adapted to form staples from wire and to drive them, a stapler head, an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, two pivoted members for actuating said head. anvil and wire-supplying means during the staple forming and driving operations, said head having a frame to which said actuating members are pivoted and confining staple forming and driving means including a yoke and a staple driver relatively movable, and separate camming means carried by one of said actuating members and cooperating directly with said yoke and staple driver respectively to impart desired staple forming vand driving movement thereto.

2. In a stapler adapted to form staples from wire and to drive them, a stapler head, an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, two pivoted members for actuating said head, anvil and wire-supplying means during the staple forming and driving operations, said head having a frame to which said actuating members are pivoted and confining staple forming and driving means including a yoke and a staple driver relatively movable, said yoke provided With laterally offstanding trunnion means, and one of said actuating members provided with camming means directly engaging said trunnion means and with camming means directly engaging said staple driver, whereby relative movement of said actuating members will impart relative staple forming and driving movement to said yoke and staple driver.

3. In a stapler adapted to form staples from wire and to drive them, a stapler head. an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, pivoted means for actuating said head, anvil and wire-supplying means during the staple forming and driving operations, said head including a frame to which said actuating means are pivoted and carrying staple forming and clinching means comprising as relatively movable parts a yoke, a mandrel and a staple driver, said yoke serving to sever said wire, and said yoke and mandrel serving jointly during relative movement to shape said wire to staple form and said staple driver serving to clinch said staple against said anvil, and camming means carried by said actuating means and movable with respect to said head and cooperating directly with said yoke and staple driver, respectively, to impart operative movement thereto.

4. In a stapler adapted to form staples from wire and to drive them, a stapler head, an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming Wire to said head, pivoted means for actuating said head, anvil and wire-supplying means during the staple forming and driving operations, said head including a frame carrying staple forming and clinching means comprising as relatively movable parts a yoke, a mandrel and a staple driver, said yoke provided with means for imparting movement to said mandrel and serving also to sever said wire, and said yoke and mandrel serving jointly during relative movement to shape a staple from the severed portion of the wire, and said staple driver serving to drive and clinch said staple against said anvil, and camming means carried by said actuating means and movable with respect to said head and cooperating directly with said yoke and staple driver to impart operative movement thereto and through said yoke to said mandrel.

5. In a stapler adapted to form staples from wire and to drive them, a stapler head, an anvil,-

and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, pivoted means for actuating said head, anvil and Wire-supplying means during the staple forming and driving operations, said head including a frame carrying staple forming and clinching means comprising as relatively movable parts a yoke, a mandrel and a staple driver. said yoke serving to sever said wire, and said yoke and mandrel serving during relative movement to shape said Wire to staple form, and said staple driver serving to drive and clinch said staple against said anvil, and camming means carried by said actuating means and movable With respect to said head, and including cam members directly cooperating with said yoke and staple driver respectively, and functioning sequentially to impart operative movement thereto.

6. In a stapler, a stapler head, an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, said head including a frame carrying relatively movable parts for forming a staple from such wire and for clinching said staple against said anvil and including a yoke and a staple driver, said frame pivotally connected with two operating members movable relatively to each other and to said frame, one of said members carrying said anvil and the other member provided With camming means cooperating directly with complementa] parts of said yoke and staple driver. whereby relative pivotal movement of said operating members will actuate said staple form- Ing and clinching means.

7. In a stapler, a stapler head, an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, said head including a yoke a mandrel and a staple driver cooperatively associated for forming a staple and for clinching it against said anvil, lever mechanism for imparting staple forming and clinching movement to said yoke. mandrel and driver, said wire supplying means including a revoluble Wire magazine carried by said head and actuated in response to movement of said lever mechanism, a wire guide extending from said magazine to said head, a connection between said lever mechanism and said magazine whereby actuation of said lever mechanism serves to rotate said magazine to measure off a predetermined length of wire and permit its subsequent feed to said head, and clutch mechanism interposed in said Wire guide and operative in response to actuation of said lever mechanism to hold said Wire against movement during said measuring off and for releasing the Wire during said feed.

8. In a stapler, a stapler head including stapleforming parts. an anvil, and means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, said Wire supplying means including a tube through which the Wire is appropriately conducted to said head and a member apertured to pass the wire to the staple forming parts of the head, said tube provided With an oiset bend functioning to guide the Wire to the aperture of said member and having in its Wall adjacent to said bend an indenta- 75' tion serving to aid in threading the wire through said aperture.

9. A stapling implement of plier type, including a stapler head comprising a frame carrying staple forming and driving means, means for supplying staple-forming wire to said head, and a pair of operating handle levers having individual separated pivot means on said frame, one of said levers carrying a staple clinching anvil for cooperation with the staple driving means, and the other lever provided with means for actuating said staple forming and driving means.

10. A stapling implement of plier type, including a stapler head comprising a frame carrying staple forming and driving means, means for supplying staple-forming Wire to said head, and a pair of operating handle levers having individual separated pivot means on said frame, one of said levers carrying an anvil normally spaced from said frame but capable of movement by said lever into cooperative relation to said driving means and adjacent to said frame, whereby said frame and lever operate as a unit upon the pivot means of the other lever, said other lever provided with means for actuating said staple forming and driving means.

11. A stapling implement of plier type, including a stapler head comprising a frame carrying staple forming and driving means, means for supplying staple-forming Wire to said head, and a pair of operating handle levers having pivot means on said frame, one of said levers carrying a staple clinching anvil for cooperation with the staple driving means, and the other lever provided With means for actuating said staple forming and driving means, said Wire supplying means including a magazine mounted upon said frame and carrying staple-forming wire, and means operatively connecting said magazine With one of said levers and responsive to relative movement of said levers to provide for relative movement between said magazine and the Wire carried thereby to measure off staple-forming lengths of Wire in response to staple forming and driving actuation of said levers.

12. A stapling implement of plier type, including a stapler head comprising a frame carrying staple forming and driving means, means for supplying staple-forming Wire to said head, and a pair of operating handle levers having pivot means on said frame and movable relatively thereto and to each other, one of said levers carrying a staple clinching anvil for cooperation with the staple driving means, and the other lever prof vided with means for actuating said staple forming and driving means, said wire supplying means including a Wire magazine carried by said frame and interposed between said levers, said levers hence being movable relatively to said magazine during their closing movement toward each other, one of said levers formed for abutting engagement with said magazine to limit such closing movement.

13. A stapling implement of plier type, including a stapler head comprising a frame carrying staple forming and driving means, means for supplying staple-forming Wire to said head, and a pair of operating handle levers having individual separated pivot means on said frame, one of said levers carrying a staple clinching anvil for cooperation With the staple driving means, and the other lever provided with means for actuating said staple forming and driving means, said levers capable of closing movement toward each other to perform said staple forming, driving and clinching operations, resilient means for causing separating movement of said levers after completion of said operations, and means carried by said frame andcooperating with said rst mentioned lever and means carried by the other lever and cooperating with said anvil for limiting such separating movement.

14. In a stapler, a stapler head, and means .for supplying staple-forming wire to said head including oscillatable Wire-carrying means, said head including a movable mandrel and said Wirecarrying means oscillated in timed relation to the movement of said mandrel, and cooperating means carried by said wire-carrying means and by said mandrel, respectively, for arresting oscillation of said Wire carrying means.

15. In a stapler, a stapler head, and means for feeding staple-forming wire to said head including an oscillatable Wire magazine, said head provided with staple forming parts, means for imparting staple-forming movement to the parts of said head, means for imparting oscillatory movement to said magazine in timed relation to the movement of the parts of said head, and cooperative stop means carried by a staple forming part of said head and by said magazine, respectively, for arresting oscillation of said magazine.

16. In a stapler, a stapler head, and means for feeding staple-forming Wire to said head including an oscillatable Wire magazine, said head provided with staple forming parts including a movable mandrel, means for imparting staple-forming movement to the parts of said head, means for imparting oscillatory wire-measuring-oi movement to said magazine in timed relation to the staple-forming movement of the parts of said head, means for imparting Wire feeding return movement to said magazine, and cooperative stop means carried by said mandrel and by said magazine, respectively, for arresting return movement of said magazine.

EDWARD L. SIBLEY. 

